Man gets death for killing mom, sis, aunt

GREENSBURG, Pa. (AP) — A western Pennsylvania man has been sentenced to death for murdering his mother, sister and elderly aunt in his automotive glass shop where the victims sometimes also worked.

A Westmoreland County jury deliberated about seven hours before returning the penalty late Tuesday against 52-year-old Kevin Murphy.

The penalty verdict came after brief testimony from relatives who described Murphy as hard-working and law-abiding, and a psychologist who supported those witnesses.

District Attorney John Peck sought the death penalty after Murphy was convicted of first-degree murder on Friday for killing his mother, 69-year-old Doris Murphy; his 43-year-old sister, Kris Murphy; and his aunt, 81-year-old Edith Tietge, in April 2009.

Peck says Murphy killed the women because they disapproved of his relationship with a married woman, who moved in with him days later.